HHS Weighs Changes to Health Data Privacy Regulations

The Department of Health and Human Services is considering making changes to federal privacy regulations governing health data - including the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the 42 CFR Part 2 law, which pertains to substance abuse and mental health information.

While regulatory experts are already debating whether changes to HIPAA are, indeed, needed, many say changes to the 42 CFR Part 2 are long overdue.